ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Handicappers who pay attention to track bias can reap the benefits when Woodbine horses ship to Fort Erie.
A prime example of this came when Sir Austin came off a winter layoff and was beaten nearly 19 lengths after running on a dead rail in a $12,500 claimer April 24 at Woodbine. Sir Austin subsequently met $7,500 nonwinners-of-three opposition May 1 at Fort Erie, and scored a front-running win as a 7-1 overlay.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Eight older horses have been entered for Friday's featured seventh race, an optional claiming event at five furlongs.
Kenyawin and Strike the Chord will break from posts 3 and 4, and should battle for the early lead. Both have good records at the distance.
Dearest Jack, who begins from post 2 under apprentice Nadia Dohnlova, should get a good stalking trip just behind the pacesetters.
Coldstream was winless in nine starts last year, six of which came at this level. He breaks from the rail with Gary Melanson on board.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Last spring, Mulligan the Great opened his campaign with an impressive win in an allowance race, but finished third as the favorite 15 days later in the New Providence.
"His first start last year was huge," said Cliff Hopmans, who trains Mulligan the Great for owner Charlie Simmons. "He was very, very fresh. When he came back, he probably bounced a little bit in the New Providence."
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - They were born two months apart in 1956, Pat Cuccurullo in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, Wayne Catalano in New Orleans's Ninth Ward, spots that stamp their sons with strong, similar accents. Even the cadence of their surnames swirls together: Cuccurullo, Catalano.
A year ago, Cuccurullo, down to a handful of horses, struggled to keep his head above water. Catalano was sitting pretty, with a full barn for the owner Frank Calabrese, about to start winning his third Arlington training title in four seasons.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Kelly Kip was one of the fastest horses to ever run in New York, and it's only fitting that the New York Racing Association has named a race after the multiple stakes winner, who holds the track record for five furlongs at Belmont Park.
The $60,000-added Kelly Kip is the feature on Friday's twilight racing card and drew nine 3-year-olds, none of whom has won a graded stakes. Among the horses entered in the 6 1/2-furlong Kelly Kip is Smokume, who is trained by Allen Jerkens, Kelly Kip's trainer. Smokume, like Kelly Kip, is owned and was bred by Hobeau Farm.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Canterbury Park opens its doors for its 18th season of live racing Friday and celebrates its 10th season under the management of the Sampson family, who re-opened the facility for live racing in 1995. The 68-day meet will continue through Labor Day.
Four 3-year-olds who finished far behind Smarty Jones early in their careers face far easier competition in Friday night's $40,000 Danzig for Pennsylvania-breds, the first stakes of the season at Penn National.
Of the horses who chased Smarty Jones when he romped by 15 lengths in last November's Pennsylvania Nursery at Philadelphia Park, Salty Punch and Isle of Mirth appear to be the strongest contenders in the six-furlong Danzig.
Gabrieles Princess, winless in six previous starts at Mountaineer Race Track, outdueled Maryland shipper Idadidit through the stretch to score a one-length victory in Tuesday night's $75,000 Hancock County Handicap.
A 5-year-old mare ridden by Huber Villa-Gomez and trained by Rodrigo Madrigal Sr., Gabrieles Princess ($10) pressed the pace set by Idadidit, stuck her head in front at the eighth pole, and edged clear late. She covered five furlongs on a fast track in 59.03 seconds.